Fiorentina and Verona blame each other for Kouame failed transfer | OneFootball

Fiorentina and Hellas Verona are blaming each other for the failed transfer of Christian Kouame on deadline day, as the contract they deposited was incomplete.

The striker had been on the verge of a move to Cagliari when the Sardinians pulled out, so instead the negotiations picked up with Verona in the final hours of the January transfer window.

FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 27: Fans of ACF Fiorentina cheer their team during of the Coppa Italia match between of ACF Fiorentina and of Como 1907 at Stadio Artemio Franchi on January 27, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Kouame signed the contract and it was deposited with the Lega Serie A with moments to spare, but as it was incomplete, the transfer was not registered successfully.

It was meant to be a loan with option to buy at the end of the season.

Now both clubs are blaming each other for what went wrong in the chaotic final minutes of the transfer session.

Fiorentina and Verona deny Kouame fault

epa11746512 Fiorentina’s Foward Christian Kouame scores during the UEFA Europa Conference League match ACF Fiorentina vs Pafos at Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence, Italy, 28 November 2024. EPA-EFE/CLAUDIO GIOVANNINI

“We saw an opportunity to reinforce the squad, but the move did not go through, through no fault of our own,” said Verona director Italo Zanzi in a press conference.

“We did everything the right way, but there were some missing documents on the other side.”

Fiorentina were unhappy with this version of events and released a formal statement giving their own side of the story.

SALERNO, ITALY – APRIL 21: Christian Kouamé of ACF Fiorentina scores his sides first goal during the Serie A TIM match between US Salernitana and ACF Fiorentina TIM at Stadio Arechi on April 21, 2024 in Salerno, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“Following a phone call at 19.51 where Hellas Verona accepted the terms of the loan with obligation to buy if certain conditions were met, Hellas Verona sent their documents, but what we received was not what had been agreed.

“After asking Verona to update the paperwork, Fiorentina realised time was short and worked out a verbal gentleman’s agreement to modify the purchase clause later.

“At 19.59 our club sent the co-signed documentation. Following that, Hellas Verona deposited the entire folder that was not signed by the club selling the player, nor the player, nor the club that was purchasing.

“This is why the Lega Serie A was forced to invalidate the transfer.”